Roughing machine



March 5, 1968 R. B. DUNLAP 3,371,510

ROUGHQING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 3, 1966 INVENTOR.

JYa/ierl R. B. DUNLAP ROUGHING MACHINE I Filed June 3, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 4 A, M #3 y 1 g March 5, 1968 RB. D4UNLAP 7 "3,371,510

ROUGHIN'G MACHINE Filed June 5, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent M 3,371,510 RU'UGHENG MACHINE Robert B. Dunlap, Medway, Mass, assignor to Compo Shoe Iliachinery Corporation, Waltharn, Mass a corporation of Delaware Filed June 3, H56, Ser. N 555,126 29 Claims. (Cl. 696.5)

This invention relates to machines for operating on shoes and in particular to machines for automatically roughing the marginal portions of the bottoms of lasted uppers for receiving adhesive preparatory to bottomattaching operations.

A variety of contrivances embodying rotating or reciprocating abr-ading elements have been devised for roughing the marginal edge of lasted uppers. However, because of the change in contour and level of the bottom, such contrivances have not been entirely satisfactory and must be supplemented by manual operations to provide the uniformity of roughing desired around the entire bottom.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide a roughing machine which is automatic in the sense that it will rough the entire marginal edge of a bottom or a predetermined portion thereof without manipulation of the lasted upper other than by placing it in the machine and removing it therefrom; to provide apparatus which will effect uniform roughing of the margin along both sides from one end to the other and will effect substantially the same degree of roughing in spite of changes in level lengthwise and/or transversely of the bottom; to provide apparatus in which the degree of roughing may be increased or decreased according to the character of the upper material; to provide apparatus which will accommodate shoes of different size and kind; and to provide apparatus which is efficient, reliable and durable.

.As herein illustrated, the machine comp-rises means for supporting a lasted upper with its bottom in a predetermined plane for movement along a predetermined path, and endless members supported at each side transversely of the path of movement for angular movement on axes parallel to the path of movement and for movement perpendicular to said plane. Each endless member is a flexible band having a normally fiat abrasive surface, supported 011 a pair of spaced pulleys with the inner side of one run engaged with a yieldable backing member located in a position to conform that portion of the band having engagement with the bottom at any given time to the contour of the portion of the bottom with which it has contact. The backing member is in the form of a brush supported with its bristles engaged with the inner side of the band. The support for the band and the pulleys about which the band is entrained is a rigid beam pivotally supported at one end on a post, the latter being adjustable perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the bottom of the lasted upper and pivotally connected at its other end to power-operable means comprising a motor cylinder and piston assembly embodying a piston rod to which the latter end of the beam is pivotally connected. Optionally, both ends of the beam may be pivotally connected to power-operable means operable independently or in combination. By supplying pressure fluid to the power-operable means the beam may be moved angularly to change the angular position of the band relative to the bottom of the upper, and by vertical adjustment of the post the beam and hence the band may be raised and lowered relative to the bottom of the upper. The lasted uppers are supported for movement by carriage means slidably mounted on a pair of spaced parallel tracks and movement is effected by a conveyor chain to which the carriage means are connected. Sensing means located in the path of movement of the lasted upper are operable, as theupper is 3,371,510 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 moved toward the bands, to apply pressure fluid to the power-operable means to bring the hands into operative position relative to the bottom of the upper and to maintain them in position. Each sensing means comp-rises an arm pivotally supported above the path of movement with its free end hanging down in the path of movement and is operable by engagement of the bottom therewith to supply pressure fluid to the power-operable means to raise the beam to a position such that the lower run of the band is just above the level of the bottom. As the leading end of the bottom nears the band, photoelectric means operates to supply fluid pressure to a motor connected to the backing member to depress the latter and hence the lower run of the band into engagement with the bottom of the upper and simultaneously to elevate the sensing means. Now the band, by engagement with the bottom of the upper, operates in place of the sensing arm to supply fluid to the power-operable means in such a manner as to constantly adjust the angular disposition of the beam in accordance with the contour of the bottorn. The carriage means comprises two carriage plates connected to the conveyor chain, one mounting a toe rest and the other a heel pin for receiving a lasted upper bottom side up. The heel pin is pivotally mounted on its carriage plate, a lever is provided for tilting it toward the toe rest and there is cam means adjacent the track operable, as the carriage plates move toward the beam, to tilt the pin relative to the last to lock the last against the toe rest. Near the end of each roughing operation a switch is operable to effect elevation of the beam and hence the brush from the bottom to terminate roughing at a predetermined point and/or to prevent the beam from dropping down at the heel end. The photoelectric means is simultaneously operated to retract the brush relative to the band.

The bands, supporting structures and power-operable means therefor are confined within an enclosing cabinet provided with entrance and exit openings through which the carriage means enter and leave, and the intake of an exhaust fan is connected thereto by means of which the particles of upper material ground off during the roughing operation can be removed.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the bottom of a lasted upper showing the marginal area which is to be roughed preparatory to application of an adhesive thereto and for attaching an outsole to the bottom;

FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates, in elevation, a pair of endless bands of abrasive material arranged to operate on the opposite sides of a lasted upper supported bottom side up;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the machine with the base omitted showing a lasted upper mounted on supporting means at the entrance side preparatory to movement into the cabinet containing the roughing bands;

FlG. 4 is a vertical elevation taken transversely of the machine as seen from the right-hand side of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken longitudinally of the machine looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIG. 4, and showing diagrammatically certain of the fluid pressure lines; and

FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates the electric and pneumatic controls for the machine.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 the bottom of a lasted upper which has been subjected to a roughing operation in the machine, which is to be described hereinafter, to roughen the marginal edge 10 of the upper all the way around the bottom from one end to the other for receiving a band of adhesive preparatory to a bottom-attaching operation, that is for attaching an outsole to the bottom. The purpose of the invention is to provide a machine for automatically roughing the area to which the adhesive is to be applied, as shown in FIG. 1, and this is accomplished (FIG. 2) by moving the lasted upper along a predetermined path which is at right angles to the path of movement of endless abrading or roughing bands 12 supported at right angles to the path of movement of the lasted upper, one of which operates on one side of the bottom and the other at the other side, these bands being conformable to the contour of the bottom and movable relative thereto as will now appear, Although the bands as herein employed are comprised of flexible sheet material coated with abrasive, it is within the scope of the invention to employ any equivalent roughing or abrading device of flexible or articulated construction amenable to conformation to the curvature of the bottom especially at the shoulder of the last.

The machine has a supporting frame structure 14, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bottom part of which is omitted, on which there is mounted supporting means 16 for moving lasted uppers, one after another, along the aforesaid predetermined path relative to the roughing bands 12. Specifically, the support 16 is comprised of a pair of transversely spaced parallel rods 13 which extend lengthwise of the frame, and carriages movable along the rods. The rods 18, which constitute rigid tracks, are secured in position to horizontal beams 20 at the top of the supporting frame by bracket members 22. Two carriages are provided for each lasted upper and are fastened in pairs in suitably spaced relation to each other to the links of an endless conveyor chain 26 (FIG. 3) entrained about sprockets 28 and 30 mounted at opposite ends of the frame 14 on shafts 27 and 29. A driving connection in the form of a chain 32, entrained about a sprocket 33 fastened to the shaft 29, provides for effecting movement of the conveyor chain 26. Each carriage comprises a flat plate 34 (FIGS. 4 and 5) provided at its opposite edges with pairs of vertically spaced parallel arms 36. Rollers 38 are mounted between the arms for rotation about axes perpendicular to the carriage and these rollers have lateral surfaces which taper from their ends toward the centers for engagement with the rods so that each carriage is supported against twisting and/ or tilting during its movement along the track.

The foremost carriage of each pair of carriages mounts a toe pad 40 (FIG. 5), the upper surface of which is contoured to receive the toe of the lasted upper. The pad 40 is secured to the upper end of a screw 42, the lower end of which is adjustably mounted on a post 44 secured to the carriage by engagement of a flange plate 46 at the lower end of the post within spaced parallel confronting grooves 48 provided by gibs 50 bolted to the opposite edges of the carriage plate. An internally threaded collar 52 on the screw 42 provides for adjusting it heightwise and a screw 54 threaded into the side of the post 44 provides for locking the screw 42 in a selected position of adjustment. The post itself may be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly on the carriage plate by sliding the flange plate 46 along the grooves 43.

The rear one of the carriage plates mounts a pin 56 for engagement with a spindle hole 58 in the cone at the heel end of the last. The pin 56 is fixed to a block 60 and the latter is rotatably supported on a pin 62 between a pair of vertical, transversely spaced posts 64 secured to the carriage plate, for example, by welding, as shown in FIG. 5. One arm 66 of a lever 68 having right-angularly disposed arms 66 and 70 is rigidly secured to the lower side of the block 60 with the arm 70 extending downwardly therefrom. The lower end of the arm 70 has on it a cam follower '72 which is operable, as will appear hereinafter, by means of a cam track located along the path of movement of the carriage to rotate the lever 68 in a direction to tilt the pin 56 forwardly in the spindle hole 58 toward the toe pad and thus to lock the toe of the last against the toe pad. The cam track which effects operation of the lever 68 is shown at 74 with the cam follower 72 engaged therewith, and this cam track extends forwardly beyond the roughing bands where it terminates so as to release the last with the upper thereon after the bottom roughing operation has been completed.

The roughing bands 12 as illustrated above are in the form of endless flexible bands having abrasive on their outer sides, entrained about spaced parallel pulleys 76 and 78 (FIG. 2) disposed at opposite sides of the path of movement of the lasted upper in positions such that the lower run 80 of one band engages one side of the bottom and the lower run 80 of the other band engages the opposite side of the bottom.

The two roughing bands are identical and control of their movement for the purpose of causing the lower run 80 to maintain contact with the marginal edge of the bottom is the same for each and hence the following description will be restricted to the specific details of one of the roughing bands, its support and the control therefor, it being understood that the other is identical and occupies an opposite position in the machine (FIG. 2).

Referring now to FIG. 4, the pulleys 76 and 78 are shown rotatably mounted at opposite sides of the path of movement of the bottom of the lasted upper near the opposite ends of a hollow beam 82 disposed transversely of the path of movement of the lasted upper. The pulleys 76 and 78 have peripheral grooves for receiving the band and supporting the latter with its lower run 80 in spaced parallel relation to the lower side of the beam. At the upper side of the beam there is a tension roll 81 mounted at the distal end of an arm 84, the proximal end of which is secured to a rotor 86 which is constantly biased in a direction to urge the roll 81 away from the beam and hence to tension the band. The degree of tensioning in the band may be adjusted by adjusting the bias in the arm 84; for example, if the rotor is spring-biased by increasing or decreasing the tension in the spring.

A backing member 88 (FIG. 5) is mounted on an arm 102 at the inner side of the lower run 80 (FIG. 5) of the band above the path of movement of the lasted upper and is movable perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the band so that it may be depressed to displace the lower run of the band downwardly or may be elevated to allow the lower run to take its normal course. The backing member 88 is in the form of an elongate brush 90 having stitf bristles for yielding engagement with the lower run of the band and is pivotally supported by a pin 92 in a yoke 94, so that it is free to rock with changes in the inclination of the band. The yoke is fastened to the lower end of a piston rod 96 protruding downwardly from a motor cylinder 98. The backing member 88, yoke 94 and motor cylinder 98 are supported indirectly on the beam 82 by a part 100 (FIG. 5) having angularly disposed arms 102, 104 and 106, The arm 102 slopes upwardly from the path of movement of the bottom of the lasted upper and is bolted to a block 103 pivotally supported by a pin 108 from the rear end of a block 110 which, in turn, is fastened to the rearwardly extending arm 112 of a bracket 114 fastened to the rear side of the beam 82. The arm 104 extends upwardly from the forward end of the arm 102 beyond the upper side of the beam and the arm 106 extends rearwardly therefrom over the -upper side of the beam. A screw 116 is mounted in the arm 106 with its lower end directly above the beam and is adjustable therein to limit the amount of pivotal movement of the part 100 on the pin 108 relative to the beam.

The left end of the beam 82 (FIG. 4) is provided with a tongue 118 which is pivotally connected in the bifurcated upper end 120 of a post 122 by means of a pin 124. The lower end of the post contains a bore 126 threaded axially in which there is screwed one end of a screw 128, the opposite end of which is threaded into the upper end of a sleeve 130. The sleeve 130 is pivotally connected at its lower end by a pin 132 to the machine frame. A wheel 134 is mounted on the screw between the post 122 and the sleeve 130 and is operable, by rotation, to raise and lower the post 122 relative to the frame and hence to move the left end of the beam 82 up and down relative to the bottom of the lasted upper to establish a predetermined level relative to the bottom of the lasted upper. The right end of the beam is pivotally connected by a pin 135 to a block 136 slidably supported by means of a dovetail connection to vertically disposed tracks 138 secured to the frame. The block 136 in turn is connected to the upper end of a piston rod 140 projecting upwardly from the upper end of a motor cylinder 142, the latter being supported in a vertical position between a pair of vertically spaced brackets 144 on the frame. Connections are provided at the upper and lower ends of the motor cylinder 142 for supplying fluid pressure thereto to raise and lower the beam 82 angularly relative to the pivot at its opposite end. It is thus apparent that the beam can be moved vertically relative to the bottom of the lasted upper by adjustment of the post 122 to establish a predetermined working level and can be moved angularly in a given position of vertical adjustment to change the angle of the plane contact of the band with the surface of the bottom of the lasted upper.

During the movement of the lasted upper relative to the roughing band, the beam 82 is moved up and down to maintain the lower run of the adhesive band supported thereby in contact with the surface of the bot-tom as the level and slope of the surface changes from one end to the other. Control of the movement is effected by means of a follower-type valve 154 operable, in response to pressure brought to bear on it by changes in level and angle of the bottom, to supply fluid pressure to the motor cylinder 142 in a direction to raise the beam in response to an increase in the level of the bottom and to lower the beam in response to a decrease in the level, so as to constantly adjust the angular position of the beam to maintain a substantially constant pressure between the roughing band and the bottom of the lasted upper throughout movement of the lasted upper relative to the bottom. Follower or servovalves of the kind employed herein are commercially available. Such a valve is shown and described in detail in United States Patent No. 2,888,693, dated June 2, 1959.

The tension in the abrasive band tends to cause the lower run to have tangential contact with the bottom even though there is some pressure between the band and the bottom. To effect roughing of an area of suitable transverse width, it is necessary to yieldably press an appreciable length of the hand against the surface of the bottom. The brush 90 referred to above provides for this and is lowered as the leading end of the shoe moves into position beneath the band to conform the band to an area of the desired transverse width.

In the operation of the machine, as a lasted upper is moved along toward an abrasive band, the leading end of the lasted upper engages the underside of the arm 102 (FIG. 5), raising it and the block 103 against the lower end of a spindle 148 supported for vertical movement in the block 110. The spindle 148 has at its upper end a head 150 which bears against a lever 151 pivotally supported on a pin 153 journaled in a bracket 155 secured to the block 110. A spindle 152 extending from the servovalve 154, mounted on a bracket 114 above the lever 151, bears against the lever 151 between the head 150 and the pin 153. A coiled spring 156 normally holds the spindle 152 engaged with the lever 151 so that it follows closely the movement of the arm 102. Fluid pressure is supplied to the valve 154 through conductors C3, C4 from a suitable source of pressure. Raising the valve spindle 152 supplies fluid pressure to the lower end of the motor cylinder 142 which in turn raises the beam until the level of the lower run of the belt is just above the bottom of the lasted upper, or in other words, the beam is raised until the forward end of the arm 102 has contact with the bottom of the lasted upper. If the bottom were flat and remained at a constant level, the beam would remain in this position; however any increase or decrease in the level, as the bottom moves forwardly beneath the forward end of the arm 102, will produce corresponding changes in the level of the beam.

Each endless band is as illustrated supported on its beam forwardly of the forward end of the arm 102 (FIG. 5) so that the leading end of the bottom of the upper has to move beyond the forward end of the arm 102 before it reaches the lower run of the band. In order to bring the brush down against the band to displace the band downwardly into engagement with the bottom of the upper, a photoelectric cell 162 and light source 164 (FIG. 4) are mounted by means of brackets 166 and 168 at the lower side of the beam 82 at opposite sides of the path of movement of the lasted upper, so that upon interception of the beam by the leading end of the shoe, a valve V1 will be opened to permit flow of pressure fluid through the valve from the conductor C4 to the motor cylinder 98. Lowering of the brush 90 into engagement with the band raises the forward end of the arm 102 from the bottom surface of the lasted upper so that now the movement of the arm 102 follows the movement of the brush. However, since the brush is connected by the arm 104 to the arm 102, the valve 154 will continue to be operated, as previously related, to supply fluid pressure to the motor cylinder 142.

At the end of the roughing operation as the trailing end of the lasted upper leaves the roughing band switches S1 (FIG. 4) supported on the frame by brackets 178 at opposite sides of the path of movement, are operated by cam members 182 fastened to the rear one of the carriage plates (FIG. 5) to energize solenoid R2 which take over the control of the valve 154 and raise the beam so as to disengage the bands from the bottom.

The cam members 182 are adjustably supported on the post 64 to enable effecting operation of the switches S1 sooner or later depending upon the length of the lasted upper and the point at which roughing is to be terminated. A compression spring is adjustably supported in each beam between the upper side of the arm 102 (FIG. 5) and a screw-supported block 192 which yielda-bly holds the arm 102 depressed in the absence of a lasted upper with the lower end of the screw 116 engaged with the top of the beam thus limiting downward movement of the beam. T he screw 196 provides for increasing or decreasing the yield of the arm 102 and hence the roughing pressure.

Each endless band 12 is driven by rotation of the pulley '78 and this in turn is driven by a pulley 200 (FIG. 4) about which one end of a belt 202 is entrained. The op posite end of the belt is entrained about a pulley 204 fixed to the shaft of a motor 206 mounted on the upper side of the beam 80.

As previously related, the component parts supporting the endless bands for movement are identical for the two bands and are supported on the machine frame substantially parallel to each other so that the bands operate successively on the bottom as the latter is moved forwardly along its path relative to the band, one at each side. Controls are provided for each roughing assembly.

Large quantities of dust and fragments of upper material are generated by the roughing action and this is confined and removed from the operation by a cabinet 210 (FIG. 3) which encloses the operating components except for an entrance opening at one end through which the lasted upper is permitted to enter and an exit opening at the opposite end through which it is permitted to leave. A suction fan 212 is mounted on the cabinet with its intake in communication with the interior to carry on the dust fragments.

During normal operation of the apparatus the conveyor chain which effects movement of the supports for the lasted uppers is driven continuously by a suitable electric motor in the base of the frame. The operator stands at the left end of the machine, as shown in FIG. 3, and

7 places the lasted upper to be roughed bottom side up with the toe resting on the pad and the heel impaled upon the pin of the support moving toward the inlet opening in the cabinet. The lasted upper is automatically clamped against the toe pad by engagement of the follower 72 with the cam track 74 and is held clamped until the roughing operation is completed, whereupon the lasted upper is released and can be removed from the support.

The beams 82, as herein illustrated, are pivotally supported at one end by a post which is adjustable heightwise to vary the elevation of that end relative to the path of movement of the lasted upper. It is within the scope of the invention to employ in place of the post a poweroperable motor cylinder and rod assembly such as used at the opposite end, so that both ends of each beam are supported for movement relative to the bottom of the lasted upper.

The electrical and pneumatic means for controlling the operation of the machine is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 6. There are three electric motors M1, M2 and M3, the motors M1 and M2 driving the endless abrasive bands 12 and the motor M3 driving the conveyor chain 26. During normal operation the motors M1, M2 and M3 are running continuously.

Each supporting beam 82 is controlled by a servovalve 154 connected to the motor cylinder of the power-operable means associated with it. As shown, the servovalve 154 is connected by conductors C1 and C2 to the upper and lower ends of the motor cylinder 142. Pressure is supplied to the servovalve from a pressure line C3. During normal approach of a lasted upper toward an abrasive band 12, the servovalve 154 is operated by displacement of the arm 102 to raise the beam 82 to a level above the bottom of the lasted upper. When the leading end of the bottom of the lasted upper reaches the photoelectric means comprising the light source 164 and cell 162 referred to above, and thereby interrupts the beam, a photoelectric circuit PE will be caused to energize a relay R1 which in turn will actuate a valve V1 to support fluid pressure from a conductor C4 to the upper end of the motor cylinder 98, thereby depressing the brush 90 and the endless band 12 into engagement with the upper and simultaneously lifting the arm 102 out of contact with the bottom. The roughing operation continues until the switch S1 is closed and this as pointed out heretofore is adjustable by adjustment of the cam 182, so that the time of closing may be varied. Closing of switch S1 energizes a solenoid R2 which shifts the servovalve 154 in a direction to elevate the beam 82 so as to lift the endless member from the bottom of the lasted shoe. This may be timed by adjustment of the cam to take effect, for example at the approximate position of the breast line of the heel or at the trailing end of the bottom. The switch S1 is held closed until the trailing end has moved beyond the roughing band whereupon it is re-opened and the control of the beam restored to the servovalve. As the trailing end of the bottom leaves the roughing band the light beam is restored, the relay R1 is deenergized and the valve V1 exhausted so that the brush 98 which contains a spring-returned piston retracts the brush relative to the band.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for roughening the bottoms of lasted uppers comprising means for supporting a lasted upper with its bottom in a predetermined plane and for movement along a predetermined path, a pair of flexible endless members, each having an outwardly directed working face and supported one at each side of the path of movement of the lasted upper in spaced parallel relation transversely of the path of movement of the lasted upper for movement relative to said path of movement,

a yieldable backing member for each of said endless members mounted to back its respective member, each of said endless members being movable linearly on its support relative to said yieldable backing member located in a position to conform that portion of the endless member having engagement with the bottom at any given time to the contour of the portion of the bottom with which it has engagement, and power-operable means for maintaining said endless members in engagement with the marginal portions of the bottom at each side throughout movement of the bottom relative to said endless mem bers.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the endless members are supported for angular movement on axes parallel to said path of movement and for translatory movement perpendicular to said predetermined plane.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each endless member is a flexible band having a normally flat abrasive surface, a pair of spaced pulleys supporting the band with the inner side of one run engaged with said backing member, said backing member permitting elevation of the endless member to the extent of conformation of the surface of the portion of the bottom of which it has contact, and means for driving one of the pulleys to etfect travel of the band about said pulleys.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the backing member for each band is a brush supported with its bristles engaged with the inner side of said one run of the band.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support for each endless member is a rigid beam mounting spaced pulleys about which the endless member is ntrained, and means at one end supporting the beam for angular movement about an axis at that end parallel to the path of movement of the bottom of the lasted upper.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support for each endless member is a rigid beam mounting spaced pulleys about which the endless member is entrained, and means supporting one end of the beam for angular movement about an axis spaced from and parallel to the path of movement of the bottom of the lasted upper and for translatory movement perpendicular to the plane of said path.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support for each endless member is a rigid beam mounting spaced pulleys about which the endless member is entrained, and the power-operable means comprises a motor cylinder and piston assembly situated at one side of the path of movement of the lasted upper, said piston having a rod protruding from one end of the motor cylinder to which one end of the beam is pivotally connected 8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supporting means for the endless members are beams, means pivotally supporting the ends of each beam comprising, at one end, a post located at one side of the path of movement of the lasted upper to which said end is pivotally connected, and at said other end said power-operable means comprising a motor cylinder and piston assembly, said piston having a rod to which said other end of the beam is pivotally connected, and means for supplying fluid pressure to the motor cylinder to extend and retract the rod.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, comprising means for adjusting the post vertically relative to the path of movement of the lasted upper to change the level of the axis on which the beam is pivoted relative to the path of movement.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means for effecting movement of the support for the lasted upper transversely of the width of the endless members to present successive portions of the bottom of the lasted upper to said endless members.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means for effecting movement of the support for the lasted upper to present successive portions of the bottom thereof into confronting relation to the backed portions of the endless members, and longitudinally spaced parts on said support on which the lasted upper is adapted to be mounted bottom side up.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said longitudinally spaced parts comprise a pad for receiving the toe of the lasted upper and a pin for receiving the spindle hole at the heel end of the last.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said pad is adjustable perpendicularly relative to the path of movement of said lasted upper, and wherein the pin is pivotally supported, and means operable to rock the pin with respect to the axis of the spindle to lock the last against said pad.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a cam lever is secured to said pin, and a cam track adjacent the path of movement of the lasted upper cooperable with the cam lever which holds said pin inclined forwardly relative to said toe pad during engagement of the bottom of the upper with the endless members and which releases the lever at the termination of the roughing operation.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising spaced parallel tracks on which the means supporting the lasted upper is mounted for linear movement along said path transverse to the endless members, and means for effecting movement of the means supporting the lasted upper along said tracks.

16. Apparatus according to claim 1, including valve means for controlling operation of the power-operable means, a feeler supported in the path of movement of the bottom of the lasted upper, means operable to displace the lower run of each endless member downwardly relative to said feeler into engagement with the bottom and simultaneously to elevate the feeler therefrom, and sensing means situated in the path of movement of the lasted upper beyond the feeler in the direction of movement operable, as the leading end of the bottom reaches the endless member, to effect operation of said last means, said valve means being operable, in response to movement of the feeler as the leading end of the bottom engages it, to raise the support to a position such that the lower run of the endless member is situated at a predetermined distance above the plane of the bottom of the lasted upper, and thereafter by engagement of the lower run of the endless member with the bottom to maintain the endless member in engagement with the bottom.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said sensing means are operable by movement of the lasted upper beyond the endless members to effect elevation of said yieldable backing members.

18. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said poweroperable means includes means connected to the support for each endless member operable to effect angular movement thereof, and means controlling operation of the power-operable means, said means being responsive to the contour of the bottom of the lasted upper with which the endless member has contact to maintain said endless member in contact with the bottom.

19. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power-operable means includes means connected to the support for each endless member to effect angular movement thereof, an arm pivotally supported in the path of movement of the bottom of the lasted upper, said arm being movable by contact of the bottom of the lasted upper therewith as it is moved along said path, and a valve operable in proportion to the movement of said arm to effect operation of the power-operable means.

20. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising spaced parallel tracks, carriage plates mounted on said tracks for movement therealong, said carriage plates supporting said means for supporting the lasted upper, and a conveyor for effecting movement of said carriage plates relative to the endless members to move the lasted upper relative to the endless members.

21. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising spaced tracks, carriage plates mounted on said tracks for movement therealong, a chain to which pairs of carriage plates are secured in spaced relation, there being a plurality of pairs of carriage plates along the chain, and means on each pair of carriage plates for engagement with the toe and heel ends, respectively, of a last to support the same bottom up for movement of the bottom of a lasted upper transversely of the endless members.

22. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power-operable means includes means connected to the support for each endless member to effect angular movement thereof, and a valve operable to supply fluid pressure to said power-operable means, said valve being operable in response to pressure of the bottom of the lasted upper on the endless member to impart movement thereto in the direction of the applied pressure.

23. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power-operable means includes means connected to the support for each endless member to effect angular movement thereof, a sensing device situated in the path of move ment of the lasted upper operable, as the leading end of the lasted upper approaches the endless member, to effect displacement of the lower run of the endless member into engagement with the bottom, and valve means operable, in response to the pressure of the bottom on the endless member, to effect operation of the power-operable means.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said sensing device includes a servovalve mounted on the support for controlling the flow of fluid pressure to the poweroperable means, means on the support movable in response to the level of the bottom of the lasted upper operable to effect a corresponding movement of the valve when the bottom has contact therewith, and a switch operable as the lasted upper moves beyond the endless member to shift the valve in a direction to elevate the support and hence the endless member from the path of movement of the lasted upper.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the switch is activated as the support for the lasted upper moves beyond the endless member and de-activated prior to movement of the bottom of the next lasted upper into engagement with said means, and a solenoid is operable during activation of the switch to shift the valve in a direction to elevate the support and hence the endless member from engagement with the bottom of the lasted upper.

26. Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein a cam element is mounted on the support for the lasted upper, said cam element being operable by engagement with the switch, as the bottom of the lasted upper is moved relative to the endless member, to activate and de-activate the switch, and a relay operable during activation of the switch to render the servovalve inoperative.

27. Apparatus according to claim 24-, wherein a cam track is mounted on the support for the lasted upper and is movable therewith relative to the switch to activate and de-activate the switch, a solenoid is operable by activation of the switch to render the servovalve inoperative, and there is means for adjusting the position of the cam track on the support to effect activation of the switch when the bottom of the upper has reached a predetermined position relative to the endless member.

28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the cam track is adjustably positioned to effect activation of the switch at the moment the trailing end of the bottom of the lasted upper moves beyond the endless member.

29. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said sensing device includes a servovalve mounted on the support of said endless members for controlling the flow of fluid pressure to the pressure-operable means, a sensing element is operably connected to the servovalve operable, by engagement of the bottom of the lasted upper as it moves toward the endless member, to raise the support and hence the endless member to a level above the bottom of the lasted upper, a motor on the support is operable to move the backing member downwardly relative to the sensing element to press the endless member into engagement with 1 1 1 2 the bottom and simultaneously to displace the sensing References Cited element upwardly therefrom, said backing member being UNITED STATES PATENTS operably connected to the servovalve and being operable, by engagement of the bottom of the lasted upper with the 3233438 2/1966 Hansen et a1 696'5 endless member, to cause the endless member to follow 5 F REIGN PATENTS the contour of the bottom, and means operable, as the 24,236 1911 Great B i i leading end of the bottom reaches the endless member, to elfect operation of the motor and when the trailing end JORDAN FRANKLIN Pmnmy Exammer' leaves the endless member to exhaust the motor. A. R. GUEST, Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE FOR ROUGHENING THE BOTTOMS OF LASTED UPPERS COMPRISING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A LASTED UPPER WITH THE BOTTOM IN A PREDETERMINED PLANE AND FOR MOVEMENT ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH, A PAIR OF FLEXIBLE ENDLESS MEMBERS, EACH HAVING AN OUTWARDLY DIRECTED WORKING FACE AND SUPPORTED ONE AT EACH SIDE OF THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE LASTED UPPER IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION TRANSVERSELY OF THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE LASTED UPPER FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID PATH OF MOVEMENT, A YIELDABLE BACKING MEMBER FOR EACH OF SAID ENDLESS MEMBERS MOUNTED TO BACK ITS RESPECTIVE MEMBER, EACH OF SAID ENDLESS MEMBERS BEING MOVABLE LINEARLY ON ITS SUPPORT RELATIVE TO SAID YIELDABLE BACKING MEMBER LOCATED IN A POSITION OF CONFORM THAT PORTION OF THE ENDLESS MEMBER HAVING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BOTTOM AT ANY GIVEN TIME TO THE CONTOUR OF THE PORTION OF THE BOTTOM WITH WHICH IT HAS ENGAGEMENT, AND POWER-OPERABLE MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID ENDLESS MEMBERS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MARGINAL PORTIONS OF THE BOTTOM AT EACH SIDE THROUGHOUT MOVEMENT OF THE BOTTOM RELATIVE TO SAID ENDLESS MEMBERS. 